The U.S. Senate's Rent Relief Act raises the rent | PennLive Letters

U.S. Sen.Kamala Harris, D-Calif., has introduced the Rent Relief Act. This act would subsidize rent for households who pay more than 30 percent of their income on rent.

This act misses the mark on decreasing rent. It merely transfers the costs of expensive renting to all Americans. It does not address laws and taxes that have increased rent in cities. These are the real culprits. Instead, Harris has encouraged the continuation of expensive renting.

Instead, let's push for more housing to be built. This can be accomplished through cooperation with the national government and local governments. The Housing and Urban Development department could make grants based on states and cities removing housing restrictions.

Harris's own state has policies increasing rent. Los Angeles has passed a new tax on home development. This tax would on average add between $5,616 and $10,530 to construction costs. In a city with 58,000 people homeless, Harris should condemn these new taxes. Doesn't she want to make housing more affordable nationwide?

This problem exists in our own state too. In Pittsburgh, it's illegal for more than three unrelated people to live in a single-family home. Landlords are fined ludicrous six-figure sums for violating this law. Those fines discourage landlords to develop new properties or lower rents. Ultimately, this policy too often leads to empty bedrooms and higher rents.

Rent in America is too high. However, the Rent Relief Act misses the mark. This act encourages higher rents. A house divided by over regulation and high taxes cannot stand.